Be a Little Kinder

Dear Sisters,

What a spiritual feast we had today, with beautiful music and the outstanding talks and lessons on Christ!  I was grateful to be there.  Thank you to those who participated and made it a special experience for me.  Because of you, my thoughts were turned to our Savior, as they should be this time of year.

My favorite quote from the beautiful lesson on living a Christ-centered life was:

“The best measure of true greatness is how Christlike we are.”

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It was pointed out how different the world’s standard of “greatness” can be, but as we are kind and forgiving, like our Savior, we will feel true joy.

“We must learn this simple, glorious truth so that we can experience the sweet joys of the spirit now and eternally.  We must lose ourselves in doing his will.  We must place him first in our lives.” (Pres. Benson)

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What a wonderful time of year to put Christ as the center and remember to be a little kinder during the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season.  Some of the sisters mentioned how good it felt to let someone move ahead of them in the shopping line, or in traffic.  I loved the reminder that the simple acts of kindness can remind people that there is still good in the world and help to “restore humanity.”

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“We can all be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more thoughtful of one another.  We can be a little more tolerant and friendly to those not of our faith, going out of our way to show our respect for them.  We cannot afford to be arrogant or self-righteous.  It is our obligation to reach out in helpfulness, not only to our own but to all others as well.” (Pres. Hinckley)

Kindness is contagious!  I hope you will all spread some Holiday Cheer by emulating our Savior in your actions this season.  Merry Christmas!  I pray you will all be warm, happy, and bright this Holiday. Please make me aware of any needs-- you are so often my eyes and ears. I love you!

Sincerely,

Lydia

He is Mighty to Save

Dear Sisters,

I hope all of you were able to attend our Stake Conference today.  What a special meeting.  I’m sure we all feel deep gratitude for President Ellis and the time and sacrifice he put into his service.  I am very excited for President Tuck to lead and teach us.  I’m sure he will be just what our Stake needs.

I enjoyed hearing many of your experiences with the Book of Mormon Saturday morning at the Christmas Breakfast.  Your testimonies strengthened mine.  I know that we can always turn to the scriptures for answers and comfort.  It is a wonderful source of truth and guidance.  

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I appreciate all those who accepted the challenge to try to read the scriptures every day, and try finish the Book of Mormon by Christmas.  Even my nine year old Autumn took on the challenge, and I think she will finish before me.  She says it is her favorite book now.  I have had to tell her to “Stop reading the Book of Mormon and come to dinner,” or “go to bed.” A couple times… words I never thought I would say. :)  I testify that great blessings come from reading the Book of Mormon.  Pres. Hinckley promised that as we read the Book of Mormon,

“There will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”

I hope you will continue your pattern of scripture reading into the new year, or use it as an opportunity to start fresh and make it a habit.

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I recently read the wonderful section when Samuel prophesies of Christ’s birth, and tells the people of the signs to watch for. 

Many of the people don’t believe, and even try to kill Samuel, but some listened and believed and seek for the prophet because they wanted to repent and be baptized.  Those believers watched and waited for a long time.  The unbelievers mocked them and said it was past time.  They set a date for the signs to appear and threatened that if they had not come by that time, the believers would be put to death.  How frightening that must have been.  Those people must have had great faith.  The prophet prayed that Christ would come, and just as Samuel had prophesied, the signs appeared, and there were three days of light.  The unbelievers were amazed and left the believers alone.

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It occurred to me, as I was reading, that Christ was a “Savior” as soon as he came to earth.  He may have been only an infant, but his humble birth saved the lives of all those who believed and looked for the signs of his coming.  He truly is good at “saving”.  I am so grateful for his ability to rescue us.

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 Alma 34:18 “Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is might to save."

Turn to Him, and He will help you through any trial.  I know He loves you!

Sincerely,

Lydia

"A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit"

Dear Sweet Sisters,

Is it just me, or does everything seem to speed up this time of year?  I would very much like to pause, and catch up with everything, but instead, I'll have to keep jogging along and try to take an occasional moment to be still and enjoy the journey. :)

It was so fun gathering with so many of you sisters in a circle for our lesson on Sunday.  It was especially neat to have the Primary and Young Women Leaders with us.  What a beautiful sight you all made!  It did my heart good to see each of you.  Thank you for your strength and support!

We talked about times we have felt the Lord's hand in our lives through service.  There where some very tender sweet experiences shared.  Thank you!  As I mentioned, there have been countless moments when you sisters have lifted and loved me through your thoughtful service.  I have certainly felt God's love through you.

I want to mention a little thought I came across in my scripture study this week.  I am almost finished with the Book of Mormon.  I recently read where there have been fires, floods, and earthquakes, and Christ is speaking to the people in the darkness just before he appears.  He tells them the sacrifices and burnt offerings should be done away because he has fulfilled the law, and he says, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost." (3 Ne. 9:20)

The word "contrite" stuck out to me, mostly because I didn't know exactly what it meant, so I looked it up. It means feeling or expressing remorse; basically to be sorry.  But what fascinated me more was the Latin root-word translation of "conterere" with means "grind down/wear away".  What an image that created in my mind of my heart and spirit starting out rough and imperfect, but over time, through trial and opposition, the roughness and the imperfections are worn off, creating a smooth, polished, humble and more perfect offering for the Lord.  In return, we are blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, who helps us endure that opposition.

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"We must also have the bitter in order to know the sweet. Sometimes some of us think we have the bitter and not enough of the sweet. This is normal. We all have our trials of life to strengthen us. Each thinks he has the hardest or most severe trials. It may be that they are the most difficult only because they are the hardest or most difficult for you. The diamond is enhanced and made more valuable with polishing. Steel is made harder and more valuable through tempering. So also opposition builds the character of man." (Eldred G. Smith)

We would do well to remember that opposition is an "heritage of the saints of God."

President Wilford Woodruff said: 

"If we had no trials we should hardly feel at home in the other world in the company of the Prophets and Apostles who were sawn asunder, crucified, etc., for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is impossible … for the Saints of God to inherit a celestial kingdom without their being tried as to whether they will abide in the covenants of the Lord or not."

I'm going to try to remember that even the hard times are a blessing.  Hope you have a wonderful week and find some happy holiday joy!!!  See you at the Relief Society Breakfast this Saturday at 9am!!!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Christmas is about the Christ

Dear Sisters,

I'm sending my love to each of you as we approach this wonderful time of year!

My sweet mother-in-law gave me a beautiful gift this year.  She made a “Savior” tree with all his different titles on ornaments for us to hang on the tree.  As we hung them, we said each name out loud and there was such a special spirit in the room.  

I was grateful for her thoughtful gift and tender reminder of the “reason for the season.” 

“Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fulness of joy.” (Ezra Taft Benson)

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I would encourage each of you to make an effort to make this a Christ-centered Christmas. 

“It is usually something small—we read a verse of scripture, we hear a sacred carol and really listen to its words, or we witness a sincere expression of love. In one way or another, the Spirit touches our hearts, and we see that Christmas, in its essence, is much more sturdy and enduring than the many minor things of life [that] we too often use to adorn it.

“We realize in these precious moments what we feel and know in our heart—that Christmas is about the Christ.” (Elder Uchtdorf)

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As we remember our Savior this season, our testimonies will be strengthened and I think the spirit will abide in our homes and hearts. 

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

The Power of Forgiveness

Dear Sisters,

This last week, I joined Seth’s kindergarten class for a "feast".  I was deeply touched as I heard the story of Squanto.  I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but this time, I was truly inspired by the underlying message of forgiveness.

I thought I would just recap Squanto’s story from what I researched in Wikipedia and a couple other site:

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As a young Indian boy, Squanto was taught how to hunt, fish, and survive with his people.  He was captured by white men and taken back to Europe where he was taught to speak English with the intent of making him an interpreter for future voyages.  After he had learned the language, he returned to America on a ship headed back to see his people, but once again he was captured by cruel men who put him and many of his friends in chains to be sold as slaves in Spain.  Many of his friends died on the awful journey.  When they finally arrived, he was purchased by monks who nursed him back to health and taught him about Jesus Christ.  When he was well, they arranged for his return to his family and people in America.  He attempted the journey, but was once again sent back to England. 

After a couple years, he was at last permitted to make the voyage, but upon his arrival to the New World, he found out that a plague of smallpox, brought by the white men, had killed his entire village and most of the coastal Indian tribes as well.  His heart was broken and he wandered for some time.  He settled in an Indian village nearby. 

After a time, he discovered another ship sailed in and was settling near his old village.  He did not go to greet them, but watched them for some time.  They were peaceful pilgrims that came as families to escape religious persecution. They came in early winter and were quickly running short on supplies.  Squanto decided to help these people and adopt them as his own.  They were amazed to hear him speak their language, and he taught them how to survive off the land, plant corn, and gather food.  

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After their bounty that year, they held a gratitude feast to thank their God for deliverance in the new land, and to show appreciate for sending Squanto to be their guide and save them from starvation.

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Wasn’t Squanto a powerful example of forgiveness?  Surely he would be justified to have feelings of anger and bitterness towards the white men who made him a slave and destroyed his people, but instead, he set his feelings aside and became a great blessing to the pilgrims and those early settlers of this great nation.

President Brigham Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite.

He said that “there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system.” He said, “If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.”

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Elder David E. Sorensen suggests that, “When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts.”

I testify that there is great power in forgiveness.  I have seen it work in my own life and I know that applying the atonement can allow you to forgive someone even when it is very difficult.

Perhaps, as you gather with family or loved ones this thanksgiving, you may see an opportunity to forgive and allow God’s love to fill your heart, instead of bitterness.

Sincerely,

Lydia

This Life is the Time...

Dear Sisters-

I had such a neat opportunity to attend a Leadership Training Meeting yesterday, where I was taught by Elder Nelson's wife, and some other amazing women.  I had each of you on my mind, as I pondered how I could better serve you.  I thought it was interesting that much of what was said revolved around the temple and that we are in the last days.

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Sis. Nelson encouraged us to think about what she referred to as our "pre-mortal commitments," and consider what we are busy doing.  She urged us to filter out the time-wasters.  We don't want to look back on this earth life thinking, "Oh, I was suppose to be doing that?"  If we are prayerful, I feel certain the Holy Ghost can direct us to the meaningful things we should be doing.

Alma 34 comes to mind:

 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

We talked a lot about missionary work in our meetings today, I feel sure that there truly is a "hastening of the work" taking place right now.

I hope that we can all do our part to assist the Lord in building His Kingdom and preparing for His second coming.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Lydia

Thankful in Our Circumstances

Dear Sisters,

Perhaps it is the time of year, but my thoughts are bursting with gratitude today.  I sat in sacrament meeting and just felt happy.  Bro. and Sis. Larsen gave such up-beat talks about their mission experiences, and the Hanamaikai’s musical number was beautiful, and Sis. Garner had my boys completely captivated as she colored a rainbow dinosaur for them, and I just felt thankful to have such a wonderful place to go to worship and learn, with people I love.  This gospel makes me so happy.  

​My heart is so full of gratitude for each of you.  You touch my life daily!  I am so grateful for your visiting teaching efforts and all you do to strengthen and serve the sisters in our ward!  You are special, remarkable women, and I love you!

“As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to “thank the Lord [our] God in all things,”¹ to “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving,”² and to “let [our] heart be full of thanks unto God.”³

Why does God command us to be grateful?

All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness.

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.” 

(Elder Uchtdorf)

 

(Recognize the blessings that are raining down on your and enjoy them with thanks.)

Let’s all try to develop an attitude of gratitude this week, even during any difficult circumstances.  I feel sure we will be blessed for it and find greater joy.

Sincerely,

Lydia